Waukaru sale

Just got their catalog this week.  I was wondering what their sale is like and if anyone has seen the cattle in person.

Big...... Tall..... Red

I purchased a Waukaru bull this past spring during their bull sale.  I am very pleased with his performance this summer on the cows and look forward to getting calves in 2011.  I am focusing on Shorthorn females that will be cows and steers that will be at the top of the grid at the packing plant.  I don't really focus on showing bloodlines.  The bull I purchased is focused on carcass traits and lower birth weights.
I believe Waukaru's are a good choice if you want cows to produce carcass trait calves.

lightnin4 said:

Just got their catalog this week.  I was wondering what their sale is like and if anyone has seen the cattle in person.

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The Crooked Post herd in Alberta is based on Waukaru genetics and they have some really useful cattle with good performance and are still very functional. Definitely the Waukaru bloodlines offer an excellent source of outcross genetics.

The best thing you can do is go and experience it first hand. Very low key approachable breeders that will follow your purchase to the bitter end.

I cannot think of a single sale that Barry or Toby did not attend if the consignor had used Waukauru breeding- and in most cases they are buying or bidding. You think or can say alot about every breeder but they are truly above average when it comes to customer service.

Shake hands with Barry or Toby once - they will look you in the eye, return your call and remember your visit forever. period.

sue said:

The best thing you can do is go and experience it first hand. Very low key approachable breeders that will follow your purchase to the bitter end.

I cannot think of a single sale that Barry or Toby did not attend if the consignor had used Waukauru breeding- and in most cases they are buying or bidding. You think or can say alot about every breeder but they are truly above average when it comes to customer service.

Shake hands with Barry or Toby once - they will look you in the eye, return your call and remember your visit forever. period.

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I will agree. Barry, Toby and their families are super people to deal with. I went through the Waukaru herd two years ago. I was impressed with the uniformity. There are some bigger cattle, but the majority of the herd is moderate, red, and very uniform. I have purchased some cows from Waukaru, and without exception they have all done very good. I will be at the Waukaru sale this fall so I am looking forward to seeing the herd again. I have to give Barry and Toby credit for plotting their own course and just not following the lead of some other breeders. They have been able to establish some strong commercial bull sales.

sue said:

The best thing you can do is go and experience it first hand. Very low key approachable breeders that will follow your purchase to the bitter end.

I cannot think of a single sale that Barry or Toby did not attend if the consignor had used Waukauru breeding- and in most cases they are buying or bidding. You think or can say alot about every breeder but they are truly above average when it comes to customer service.

Shake hands with Barry or Toby once - they will look you in the eye, return your call and remember your visit forever. period.

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I spoke to Barry on the phone a few times about their bulls they sold this Spring.  I was looking for a red Shorthorn to breed some Angus heifers.  I was impressed with his sincerety and willingness to help select the right fit.  What can I expect to see their cattle sell for?  Does anyone know past sale averages?  My budget isn't the biggest, but I don't mind paying for quality.  I would rather have one really good cow than two mediocre ones.

I'm new to the Shorthorn breed and want practical cattle that I don't feel like I have to babysit 24/7 during calving season.  My family has raised Angus for several years and I want to add and maintain a small herd of shorthorn.  The flashy roans and red/whites in the showring first attracted me to the breed, but I tend to pick out solid reds when I look at a set of cattle. ???  At any rate, I just want to find a few really good females (regardless of color). 

I know Barry and Toby pretty well and have helped a neighbor pick out a couple of their Durham Red bulls to use on his commercial cows in the past.  We buy all of this neighbors calves to feed and I wanted to get some english blood in them to make them more uniform and feed out more efficiently.  They worked great and we have even pulled out a few of the heifers off of the feedlot early and turned them into recips. 

In attending a few of their past sales, there are top quality cattle that can be purchased at about any price that will go home and work for you.  The top end will sell rather well and then the rest of the group will sell very reasonable.  I think that they have some really nice Durham Red females that they are offering that would work about anywhere.  I really liked the video of lot 34.  I think that they even have a UTube channel that they have some videos on.

I know that they have worked hard to moderate the cowherd and Toby is doing good at adding some eye appeal and softness back into them.  That Patent bull that they raised is pretty dang good and would work in all kinds of scenarios as well.  I would guess that down the road, the Waukaru performance genetics will be a valuable tool for Shorthorn breeders to tie into if they want to keep some performance and carcass traits in their herds.

Probably the most sincere breeders in the breed and nation.

Super people to deal with.
They go the extra mile to help with delivery, etc.
Follow up is just first class and sincere
Cattle are very functional from my perspective.
I have females from their herd and from them via the Crooked Post herd that work well for me.
The calf I have in the OSA Fall Classic Orangeville sale by Ricky Bobby is from a female from Waukaru - Kiss cow family
One of the first Ricky Bobby calves to sell in Canada.